JohnMac

Hello from the Island of Tasmania..We are off to Avignon next May for seven nights. Can anyone recommend a nice, but not extremely pricey place to stay ? We are not sure whether to get the TGV From Paris or Nice..we can get a flight to either place..any suggestions ? How about car hire. Any recommendations there. Thanks.

aggiemom

Hi John -

Can you give us an idea of your budget? Will you be renting a car once you are there?

I've only been once and I'm sure you'll get lots of good advice here, but my husband and I stayed at La Banasterie in Avignon. It was 140 € per night for a two-room "apartment" in the annex of a small B&B. Very comfortable and well located. If you search here on "La Banasterie" or click on my name, you should get more information on this.

Bon voyage,
mom

monicapileggi

Comments from my web site on the hotel I stayed in while in Avignon May 2002:


HOTEL GARLANDE
20, rue Galante
84000 Avignon
Phone: 33-490-800-885
Fax: 33-490-271-658.
Email: [email protected]
http://www.avignon-et-provence.com/hotel-garlande/
Contact Ms. Michele Michelotte. Price quoted: 71.20 Euros per night for a room with twin beds.

Our room, #7, was located on the second floor. The only thing negative about this place is there is no eleator and we had to lug our heavy suitcases up 2 flights of stairs (but one time up and one time down certainly can't beat the great location and price). Our room was a corner room with twin beds, a tv, table, armoir, and a bathroom with tub, curtain, and a small window. The room faced the pedestrian street, which was fairly quiet at night. The hotel is in a good location with restaurants and shopping nearby; and the train station is only a 10 minute walk away.

Monica
http://www.luvtotravel.homestead.com/home.html

JohnMac

Hi, thanks all for the info..We would like to keep cost to around 80-100 Euros per night, because our $A does'nt go far (Does anyones !!), and yes, we will be renting a car at Avignon. It would be nice to know which would present us with less probems, going to Nice or Paris..This is in terms of getting on to the train for Avignon from the Airport. Nearly forgot ! All the car companies talk about unlimited third party. What hapeens about fully comprehensive insurance ? regards. John

Christina

I can't recommend a hotel from first-hand experience as the one I stayed in was nothing special, although adequate. For the flight, it's hard to say without knowing where you are starting (Tasmania?)-- but I would suggest Paris would probably be better. First, I would choose the cheapest flight. Second, most flights would go through Paris anyway, as a stopover, before flying to Nice. So you would add on a lot of time and a flight change to get to Nice. The TGV train is fairly quick and short from Paris to Avignon. I'm not sure on the times, but I suspect it could take almost as long to take the train from Nice to Avignon as from Paris, because it is not high-speed on that segment. Also, you may even need to change trains at Marseille or somewhere. I just don't see the point in flying into Nice if your ultimate destination is Avignon, unless you have a nonstop flight to Nice.

cigalechanta

I don't know about Tasamania but from the states if you order a car to pick up in Avignon, it's less expensive.
Shift is less expensive and so is Diesel. Th smaller the car the better to drive through many of the small beauful and perché villages.

JohnMac

Thanks to everyone for their suggestions.We have settled on Paris as our arrival point, then the train to Avignon. We have booked accomodation at Hotel Mignon..it is 67.34 Euros per night, including breakfast, airconditioning, etc, and the owner sounds lovely, having spoken to him. For a car, we found the best rate at Europecar. We only need someone to tell how long it will take to get from Charles De Gaulle airport, to the point where we pick up the train for Avignon ?
Thanks again everyone. PS. For the person who does'nt know where Tasmania is, it is the Island (same size as Ireland), South of Melbourne Australia, where you can catch the biggest wild trout in the world !!

StCirq

You can catch the train to Avignon right at CDG airport in terminal (aérogare) 2. If you fly into terminal1, you'll need to take a shuttle to the other terminal. Alternatively, you can go into Paris and take a TGV from the Gare de Lyon, but there's really no point, as there are frequent trains from the airport.

What you want is a PREM fare, unless you think you might need to change your tickets (they are deeply discounted and nonexchangeable and nonreimbursable). If you go to www.sncf.com you can find routes and rates for the French national railroad system. The PREM fares are available starting 60 days out from your date of travel. It's not uncommon to be able to get a PREM fare from Paris to Avignon for 20-25 €, which is more than half off the usual fare. But starting 60 days from your travel date, you have to check the site often. There are also family discounts if that's of use to you.

Bonne route!